Tuesday, 13 June 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In sync with his policy of zero tolerance on corruption, the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami removed the Horticulture director Harminder Singh Baweja on Monday. The CM is learnt to have taken a strict view of the complaints against Baweja and set up an inquiry against him. Acting on the findings of the inquiry the CM on Monday ordered Baweja’s removal from his position.
Baweja was appointed as director of Horticulture department on contract after his retirement from YS Parmar university of horticulture in Himachal Pradesh. After his appointment, Baweja was involved in many controversies which included charges of irregularities in purchase of kiwi saplings and in seeds of ginger and turmeric.
In October last year many senior officers of the Horticulture department had written a letter to the department secretary expressing their inability to work under him. In the letter these officers had levelled serious allegations on Baweja and questioned his working style. It is pertinent to mention that a case is also pending in the Uttarakhand High Court against him, the hearing of which would be held on June 14.
The CM’s action against the controversial director of the Horticulture department comes close on the heels of action on senior IAS officer Ram Vilas Yadav who is currently in jail. On the initiative of Dhami, a 1064 helpline number has been issued in the State. Anyone can register a complaint against any corrupt officer of any government department on this helpline number.
